Rise in children’s allowance payments made to children living in Europe

Over a third of payments related to children in the Britain, but benefit was also paid for 1,612 children in Poland and 1,332 in Romania.

There has been a sharp rise in the number of children’s allowance payments being made by the Irish state for children living in other countries around Europe.

New figures from the Department of Social Protection show that child benefit was paid last year for more than 6,700 children that were not resident in Ireland.

Over a third of those payments related to children in the Britain, but benefit was also paid for 1,612 children in Poland and 1,332 in Romania. Those three countries accounted for 80% of the total. There were also significant numbers in Lithuania (237), Croatia (172), and Slovakia (143).

The allowance is paid at the rate of €140 per month with higher rates applicable for twins or for other multiple births.

The department said payments to non-resident children were made under EU law where at least one parent was making social security contributions in Ireland.

The overseas figures rose significantly last year with payments made to 3,739 families relating to 6,739 different children.

The total number of individuals involved was up by almost 17% from 2022 when 3,287 families received benefits on behalf of 5,769 children.

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The department said for payment of the children’s allowance, the child must be “ordinarily resident” in the state.

However, there were exceptions where Irish soldiers or civil servants were serving abroad, in cases where people were temporarily employed abroad, or if a person was doing volunteer development work.

Exceptions were also made under EU law which provides that the country of employment pays family benefits even if the family resides in another member state.